Flaunting the Flamingo Flower

The flamingo flower is a beautiful blooming indoor plant. The flower is very unique and can bring a splash of bright color to primarily green interior landscapes. The flamingo flower requires little care and thrives in low light conditions making it ideal for indoor office spaces and other areas where light can be hard to come by.

The Flower

The flamingo flower, also known by its scientific name anthurium, produces flowers all year. According to Indoor Low Light Gardening, a well cared for flamingo flower can produce up to six flowers throughout the year with each flower lasting about six weeks. The flower does not have petals, but instead has a single heart shaped spathe and a tall spadix. The spathe is truly a modified leaf also called a bract and looks very similar to the leaves except for its color which can come in white, pink or red. The spadix stands up straight above the spathe and can reach 3 inches long. The appearance of the flower is what gives this plant its common name.

Soil and Water

Anthuriums prefer well draining soil as they can be prone to root rot. Gardening Know How suggests using a potting medium made from equal parts regular potting soil and orchid mix. Water about every week during the spring and summer growing seasons. Check to make sure the top of the potting medium is dry before adding more water. Do not over water, but do not let the pot become entirely dry either. It is important that the root ball not dry out. Gardening Know How recommends using a 1/4 strength fertilizer every three months. The article advises that using a fertilizer high in phosphorous will encourage healthy blooms.

Humidity

The flamingo flowers have very glossy almost plastic looking leaves and spathes. To maintain this glossy appearance the plant must be exposed to enough humidity. If the humidity drops too low the first sign that the plant is suffering is the loss of the glossy sheen on the leaves. To restore the flamingo flower’s healthy shine you can mist it with warm water once of twice a day. You can also place a tray filled with pebbles and a few inches of water under or near the plant. Make sure the container is not sitting in the water. You don’t want the water absorbed directly into the soil.

Light

Keep the plant away from any direct sunlight. Indoor Low Light Gardening informs that Anthuriums are native to the forest floors of Central and South America so they are adapted to indirect light. Anthuriums can survive in very low light conditions, but they will grow faster and produce more flowers if they are exposed to some indirect light.

Variety

Anthuriums come in a vast variety of species and cultivars. There are very large growing plants that can reach a few feet tall as well as much smaller compact varieties. There are also many color combinations of spathes and spadix. A beautiful white anthurium in a scarlet red container would make an attractive indoor arrangement for Valentine’s Day. A brilliant pink anthurium displayed in a glossy white container would also make an impressive Valentine’s Day display. Flamingo flowers are an easy choice for a bright, attractive indoor arrangement. The few care needs and adaptations to low light levels make them ideal for your client’s indoor spaces. Now is a good time to start thinking about adding some flamingo flowers to your indoor landscapes, so they are ready in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day.